For the 500th article on Twin Peaks Blog, I’m exploring the iconic Chili John’s restaurant in Burbank, California This location played a small part as Pop’s Diner in the incredible Part 8 from Twin Peaks Season 3 on Showtime. Despite the dining room being closed due to the current pandemic, I took a quick look inside and grabbed some damn fine chili to go.
WHERE IS POP’S DINER FROM PART 8 LOCATED?
A staple of Burbank for decades, Chili John’s is located at 2018 W Burbank Boulevard. The approximate coordinates for this spot are 34°10’48.2″N 118°20’01.5″W.
The restaurant is close to Burbank’s Handy Market where the scenes of Sarah Palmer shopping in Part 12 were shot.
Thanks to the Behind the Curtain footage from Part 8 on the wonderful Twin Peaks – From Z to A set, we know this scene was shot on November 10, 2015.
CHILI JOHN’S HISTORY
The story of Chili John’s begins with Lithuanian-born founder John Isaac who moved to the United States with his parents around 1874. Issac wasn’t his surname but was adopted by his father upon entering America. First settling in Pennsylvania, the family eventually moved west to Wisconsin in 1885. Â John’s father claimed land and founded a small community in Oconto County named Krakow.
According to a May 4, 1963 article in the Green Bay Press, John’s first business venture was a small saloon in Auburn, Illinois where he first dispensed chili. Author Jack Rudolph explained Isaac’s experimentation with the now famous chili recipe:
“Having been exposed to the Mexican delicacy as a boy, Isaac loved chili and made a point of learning how to make it. Not only that, over a period of several years, he experimented with the recipe, playing with the ingredients and their proportions until he hit on a dish that he thought was just right.”
Over a 13 year period, John’s chili became extremely popular with travelers passing through Auburn. When the town went dry in 1912, Isaac moved his business from Illinois to Green Bay, Wisconsin. After borrowing $40, he adopted the trade name “Chili John” and established a chili parlor near the Main Street bridge the following year.
By 1923, John’s place boasted “the longest eating counter in [Green Bay], a horse-shoe affair with 31 stools and a completely equipped kitchen” wrote Rudolph.
John’s son Ernie relocated to Burbank, California and opened the West Coast version of Chili John’s in 1946. He was an avid fisherman and painted the mountain lake mural found inside the restaurant next to the U-shaped counter.
The restaurant is located down the street from both a Lockheed plant (the one that was camouflaged during World War II) and close to the Walt Disney Studios which attracted numerous hungry patrons from both companies over the years. Supposedly Walt Disney, who loved chili, dined in the establishment yet no photographic proof exists.
John Isaac passed in 1946 at the age of 72, while son Ernie passed on April 23, 1969. His wife retired from the location in 1970 and sold the property to another owner.
Ownership changed hands again in 1990 when the Loguercio family took over. The Isaacs were Lithuanian while the Loguercios are Italian (they added garlic to the secret family chili recipe).
The neon marquee has a cameo in the recent Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. The location has been used in several other productions including I Am The Night and The Rookie.
THE CHILI FROM CHILI JOHN’S
The dining room was closed the day I visited the location on October 14, 2020. I took exterior photos from across the street and then peeked through the front window.
Shortly after snapping a photo, I was greeted by Stephen who asked if I was a location scout. Sporting my Twin Peaks hat, I explained that I was a fan of the show. He graciously allowed me to step inside to take a look around. While standing inside, I placed an order for chili and iced tea to go via their website.
One thing I was surprised to learn is tiny oyster crackers (like the ones seen above) were invented for Chili John’s chili. The crackers used to be much larger in size and made eating chili quite difficult. The tiny versions, however, were perfect. As for the chili, to paraphrase Special Agent Dale Cooper, it was damn fine!
APPEARANCE IN TWIN PEAKS PART 8
In Twin Peaks – Part 8, we’re introduced to Pop’s Diner in Los Alamos, New Mexico as The Platters “My Prayer” is broadcast over the airwaves of KPJK. It’s August 5, 1956.
Here’s a similar shot from my visit on October 14. You’ll notice that all of the framed images along the right wall were removed during the scene.
In the Behind the Curtain footage for Part 8, we see Lynch watching the uncredited actress rehearse the scene while the crew sets the stage.
Notice how the windows were covered with black tarps. Most likely the scene was shot in the afternoon.
SET DETAILS OF POP’S DINER IN PART 8
The crew kept several items as part of the set as they complemented the time period.
The neon Chili John’s clock was replaced with a Pop’s Diner sign but the Hi-Res soda advertisement is seen in both the episode and at the location today. You will also spot the vintage circular fans from the episode still flanking the neon sign.
On the far left side of the screen you can barely see some of the mural originally painted by previous owner Ernie Isaacs.
The antique, push-button cash register is also still present at the spot.
The vintage Boston Baked Beans candy display was moved from the counter and placed next to that register. I didn’t spot any when I visited the location in 2020.
THE PINK UNIFORM
The pink waitress uniform definitely caught my attention in the Behind the Curtain footage.
It reminded me of the uniform worn by Irene from Hap’s Diner in my favorite David Lynch film, Twin Peaks:- Fire Walk With Me.
As much as I’d like to think it was a conscious nod, I believe the uniform was pink because the episode was presented in black and white. More than likely, the pink color translated better on screen, similar to how the Addams Family set from the 1960s sitcom was also pink.
REACTING TO THE WOODSMAN
The waitress hears the Woodsman stop the record.
We see the same reaction during the rehearsal.
The waitress continues cleaning the counter before being overcome with the haunting words.
FAINTING AT POP’S
“Drink full and descend.”
The Continuity and Dialogue transcript for Season 3 describes the action: The waitress suddenly faints, dropping to the ground with a thud.
We see David Lynch watching this scene on monitor A during the Behind the Curtain footage. This scene was probably shot using a one-camera set up as there isn’t much space inside the diner for multiple angles (hence why it appears only on the “A” monitor).
Thank you to Stephen from Chili John’s who made my visit extra special. Seriously, you need to visit this place when in Burbank, California. I can’t wait to go back.
